Commercial Manager

Company Description

Thornbury Castle is a place where history and hospitality meet: a Tudor castle once owned by Henry VIII, now a luxury hotel welcoming guests for stays, celebrations, weddings and events. We're looking for a Commercial Manager who will help us share it with more of the right people and make every booking count.

Relais & Châteaux, One Micheline Key, 3 AA rosette restaurant.

This is a senior, hands-on role reporting to the Hotel General Manager. You'll own the commercial strategy across rooms, food and beverage, and events, and you'll lead a small, close-knit team. In a team this size, much of the selling will be yours. You'll be the one picking up the phone, meeting clients, closing deals and growing our key accounts, while also setting the commercial direction for the hotel. And on a busy event day, during a show-around with a couple who've just fallen for the castle, or when operations need an extra pair of hands, you'll be right there.

Job Description

You'll shape and deliver the commercial plan that drives revenue across the whole hotel, working closely with the General Manager and Revenue Manager on pricing, rate strategy, and distribution. You'll keep a sharp eye on market trends and competitors, spot new opportunities, and help the team to optimise occupancy, ADR and RevPAR.

You'll lead sales personally: prospecting for new business, building lasting relationships with corporate clients, agents, and tour operators, negotiating contracts and rates, and managing our key accounts. You'll also represent the castle at shows and networking events when needed.

Events are a big part of what makes Thornbury Castle special. You'll oversee and support the Events Manager, helping grow events revenue through smart pricing, strong packages and excellent enquiry conversion. You'll ensure every enquiry gets a prompt, accurate response, lead show-arounds when needed, and support the team on event days so each one runs beautifully.

You'll guide and develop the Sales & Events Coordinator, oversee digital marketing, OTA relationships and online reputation, prepare commercial reports and forecasts for senior management, support operations across the hotel when needed, and take part in our Duty Manager rota

• Develop and implement the commercial strategy to grow revenue across rooms, F&B and events
• Lead, coach and support the Sales and Events team, working alongside them rather than just delegating
• Discuss pricing, rate strategy and inventory across all distribution channels with the GM and Revenue Manager
• Support the revenue mananger Optimising RevPAR, ADR and occupancy through market, competitor and demand analysis
• Win new business and grow key accounts with corporate clients, agents and tour operators
• Ensure prompt, accurate responses to enquiries and maximise conversion into confirmed bookings
• Work alongside digital marketing team, OTA relationships and online reputation
• Negotiate contracts and rates with clients, agents and suppliers
• Prepare commercial performance reports and forecasts for senior management
• Take ownership of key events and support their successful delivery on site
• Act as Duty Manager as part of the hotel's management team

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a commercial, sales, events role, ideally in hotels
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to interpret data and drive results
• A collaborative, approachable leader who sets the standard for the team
• Excellent organisation, attention to detail and calm under pressure
• Great people skills and a positive, can-do attitude
• Flexibility to work on site and attend trade shows when required

Additional Information

• 40 hours a week on 5 flexible days according to business needs
• Salary 38000 per annum + a share of the service charge, distributed monthly
• 28-day holiday, including bank holidays
• Paid extra day off on your birthday
• Complimentary stay at the castle after the 3-month probation period has passed
• Training programmes via internal & external professionals and access to online training facilities
• Staff and family rates on hotel accommodation and discounts on food and beverage
• Recognition programmes
• Uniform and meals provided whilst on duty and free parking

At Thornbury Castle, we think and perform like owners; we're always looking to improve, we communicate clearly so there are no surprises, and we invest in our people so they can be the best they can be.